Chapter 201 : Chapter 201

Chapter 201 : Homecoming in Splendor

I’m ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍tired.

Ever ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍since the day I met Robelia, I had spent every night tossing and turning, plagued by terrible headaches.

Whenever ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍I managed to fall into a deep sleep, even for a little while.

-“My ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍beloved Rain.”

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍image of Robelia, wearing a chilling smile, would appear within my subconscious.

“……Gasp, ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍gasp…….”

When I woke up gasping for breath like that, it was the dead of dawn, still a long time before morning, and my head throbbed.

Yes. This had been my state ever since that encounter.

-“Ahaha.”

That endlessly beautiful, yet utterly twisted laughter wouldn’t leave my head.

Even if I closed my eyes, even as time passed, even if I turned away, a vague helplessness welled up within me. I would never be able to escape that laughter.

Had the Rain Enlight of old lived in this helplessness?

“……This feels disgusting.”

A hundred unexpected regressions. The mental shock that had accumulated relentlessly all that time, without a moment’s rest.

This was the result. It was easy enough to surmise.

But what else could I have done?

I could only endure until this suffering passed naturally.

For that time, I would have to give up on sleeping peacefully.

I sat in the single-person sleeping compartment of the rattling train and looked out the window.

Beyond those countless battlefields lay the road back to Archenia Academy for a brief rest. I watched the tracks and scenery pass by.

It was still an unbroken stretch of night black as pitch—or dawn.

Morning was far away, and I had been left alone in this darkness.

That day. The conversation in the annex at midnight tormented Serene’s mind for a long time.

Like a nail once driven in, it would not come out easily.

‘……But why?’

Perhaps even she herself could not have known the reason with certainty.

Why had this topic thrown her heart into such turmoil?

“……If good and evil are decided by one’s inborn nature, then judgment is simply the act of punishing someone for having been born that way.”

Serene quietly repeated the proposition Claudio had subtly raised.

“Then can that act truly be good?”

-CLACK!

“Is judgment truly just?”

The tip of the sword she had been training with wavered the moment she spoke those words.

It was an outrageously radical argument. Beyond whether it was right or wrong, it was a dangerous doctrine.

Judgment was the foundation of society. It was a shield that kept evil acts from destroying society, and a sword that cut those acts away.

To deny it was to deny the very foundation upon which this society stood.

Therefore, it must not be denied.

The girl was not unaware of that. Much less had she been persuaded.

A person’s entire capacity for good and evil could not possibly be determined by birth alone, and though there might be differences in degree, everyone would possess both good and evil within them.

‘But where does one’s own responsibility end…… and where does the domain of birth begin?’

Yet once a small doubt began to bloom, it could not be consciously controlled.

Yes, that was precisely the Crown Prince’s ability and intention.

His peculiar persuasive power, born from his very existence, made it difficult to regard his argument as wholly wrong, even if it was not entirely right.

It was an art of speech that made exact use of that innate ability, controlling the listener’s thoughts according to his own intentions.

The result of those two factors. That was the source of Serene’s current worries and hesitation.

The girl herself, swept away in the muddy torrent of her confused thoughts, could not even notice that intention.

As she was lost in those thoughts.

-STEP.

Along with the sound of footsteps entering the training hall, a voice called out to her.

“Ah, Ms. Serene. I thought I’d find you here.”

It was a bright, clear boy’s voice, utterly devoid of darkness.

“Mr. Elwin.”

At the familiar voice, the girl lowered her sword for a moment and slowly turned toward its owner.

“What brings you here……? Didn’t you have plans?”

It was a question prompted by the fact that, while they trained together every day, this was not their usual time.

“Ahaha, I did. I stopped by because there was some news I wanted to tell you in passing. Khan told me, and I thought you would probably like it.”

“News I would like……?”

The answer to her question was this.

“Mr. Rain has returned. It seems he will be staying at Archenia Academy for the time being.”

The name Rain Enlight no longer drew attention throughout the Empire as the ‘Wastrel Young Master,’ but as someone with the makings of a hero.

Accordingly, the way people reacted to me had become the complete opposite of what it had been before.

Not the contempt and ridicule that, until only a year ago, had seemed to prod incessantly at my bent back, but admiration and awe.

This interest of a ‘positive’ kind only grew as we approached the center of Endinium.

-“……Wow, it’s really Rain Enlight. Do you think I can wave to him……?”

-“He looks exactly like his photograph, but seeing him in person, his presence is…… Ah, it’s completely different.”

It was an exceptionally bustling city, and with Archenia Academy located there, it was also a region with greater interest in knights.

Accordingly, more people approached me with admiration, and I had to respond to them as well.

-“……Young Master Enlight? Are you really Rain Enlight……? If it’s all right, could I at least shake your hand……!”

Frankly, I was still uncomfortable with such reactions, so it was difficult to think of a graceful way to respond…… Fortunately, I had something Regina had told me.

-“Young Master, no matter what you do, it will be difficult for you to respond warmly because of the impression you give…… Simply respond as you are, quietly. That alone will leave an impression.”

Her advice was to maintain my characteristic silence and mystery.

I did not know whether I actually possessed such qualities, but these were Regina’s words, so I merely carried them out.

When it came to inhumanly seeing through the structure of the human heart…… was she not without equal?

That was why I.

“……Yes, that would be all right.”

Simply did as she had said.

Weight rather than warmth.

A response that preserved distance and illusion rather than inviting closeness.

Naturally, not everyone looked kindly upon me, even with Regina’s propaganda.

There were roughly two types of such people.

-“……Look at them grinning at a manufactured hero. That filthy blood has no right to it.”

One type harbored resentment toward my birth.

The other type was this.

-“……Ugh, still, I don’t know. I don’t really like him.”

-“Why? He’s got an air about him, and he’s handsome. What’s not to like?”

-“That’s not wrong, but…… His eyes are a little, too fierce.”

-“Well, it's true. He does give off a somewhat dark impression.”

The other type felt uneasy because of my distinctive appearance.

The former was a natural reaction among nobles steeped in this era’s sense of entitlement, so it could not be helped. But in the latter case……

‘Is this appearance the problem after all?’

An impression that was fundamentally difficult for people to view positively, because gloom seemed to seep from it.

Well, that could not be helped. I had been born this way, so what could I do?

It was Regina’s ability to somehow turn it into a strength that was remarkable.

In truth, those who were wary of my existence were an exceedingly small minority.

This welcome and interest continued even after I arrived at Archenia Academy.

I ignored those who despised my birth, but many commoners and members of marginalized classes approached me.

-“……Senior, I’m trying hard to follow your example. Even though I’m an illegitimate son, I’ll do my best to become like you……!”

Come to think of it, another year had passed, and I had more junior students now.

The way students in my year or higher years looked at me, and the way those in lower years looked at me, might have grown even more different.

‘……This is uncomfortable in its own way.’

Those bright, sparkling eyes that seemed to regard me with admiration.

It was awkward. Nearly a year had passed since I began receiving such positive reactions, yet it still was.

‘Because I spent more than a dozen years being scorned.’

Was it the awkwardness etched into my body?

Still.

“I will be rooting for you.”

Even so, I did not forget an appropriate response.

I had to do what needed to be done.

And…… naturally, it was only awkward. It did not make me feel bad.

‘……If I think about it normally, it would be closer to something that makes me happy.’

After overcoming all that contempt, I had finally turned those gazes into admiration. In that context, this reaction would be natural.

‘Perhaps these are the kind gazes of people that Rain Enlight longed for.’

Yet when I considered the path of life that Original Rain Enlight had endured, I could not deny that something remained knotted in my chest.

In any event, I could assure myself that my conduct at Archenia Academy had been perfect, as long as it remained within the prescribed bounds.

There was only one question, however……

-“……Ah, have I held you up for too long? The battlefield must have been incredibly grueling…… No, never mind! Go in and get some proper rest!”

-“I want to talk more, but…… I think it would be better if you went in and rested first. I have always admired you.”

People all seemed to leave me with the same impression: that I looked tired.

I was aware that I naturally looked tired and worn down……

‘Does it show on my face that much?’

Well, I simply accepted it.

After all, it was true that I was exhausted from being unable to sleep at all, and from being tormented by memories of Robelia.

“……I hope I can rest comfortably for a while.”

For that reason, I muttered a small wish.

It probably would not come true.

Had there ever been a time when I could rest with peace of mind?

Even if things appeared to settle down, something would soon erupt, and I would have to fight against it.

I knew.

That this was my fate.